English Shepherd Breed Description

Introduction

According to legend, English Shepherds are almost pure Roman sheep and cattle dogs originally brought to the British Isles by Caesar in 55 B. C. The UKC has recognized this breed since 1934. These dogs are highly intelligent, very active, agile, fearless and gritty. They make excellent family pets, great watch dogs and courageous guardians of the home. They are easy to train and need lots of exercise and regular grooming. Coat colors vary. They weigh 40 to 60 lbs. and stand 18-23" at the shoulders.

History

These dedicated herders are believed to descend from the dogs Julius Caesar brought to Britain in 55 B.C. In the U.S., they are referred to as "America's Heritage Farmdog" by the club devoted to the breed, which traces their appearance in the States to English and Scott settlers in the early colonial days.

Unlike herders who work by nipping or staring to move animals, English Shepherds herd in a looser style, remaining upright throughout. They are Collie type dogs, referred to as ‘loose eyed' when being denoted from their Border Collie cousins.

Description

The overall look of this breed is one of sturdiness, agility and intelligence. They have a relatively broad skull and a somewhat blunt muzzle. Proportions of note: width across top of skull between ear bases will roughly equal the distance between stop and occiput and both will roughly equal the distance from tip of nose to stop. Rose ears lie close to head when relaxed and are raised when alert; overall there can be variations in this feature, but they are not of concern. Being working dogs, they've never become hugely popular in cities, so many people are unfamiliar with their appearance despite their long history.

English Shepherds are not recognized by the AKC. The breed standard referenced here was created by owners and breeders working together on behalf of these wonderful dogs.

The eyes display the intelligence of the breed. They are brown and set on a very slight angle. Noses are usually solid black; sable dogs without the black overlay (known as ‘clear') can have a brown nose instead.

The strong neck arches into the laid back shoulders. The body line is level, although loins have a slight arch. Ribs are well sprung and chest is moderately broad with a depth that reaches to the elbows. The tail is just slightly shorter than the dog's body, has a sweep at the end and is feathered. Natural bobtails are acceptable up to eight inches in length.All colors are double coated for weather protection, some males may have a slight ruff or frill; heavy ones are not desirable. English Shepherds are available in four patterns:

Black and tan
Black and white
Sable and white
Tricolor (black, tan and white)

Black masks are acceptable in all of the color patterns. Acceptance of white is a matter of degree. Sable dogs may or may not have a black overlay. Those without the overlay are called clear.

Temperament

An English Shepherd is an all-round dog with a variety of useful skills. They can tree game of all kinds and perform tracking and hunting tasks with vigor and ease. Like most herders, they work livestock with a minimum of direction. Their intellect makes them ideal for search and rescue work, and enables them to place high in all dog sports and agility trials.

Friendly and outgoing, this breed will determine who it does and does not like and act accordingly. They require respectful training: this is a dog bred to think for itself and should be treated as such. Firm consistency will be your best training tool.

Health and Care

Centuries of breeding for overall skills and features have produced a dog that requires little grooming. Brush to remove debris, keep nails trim and teeth clean and your English Shepherd will do well.

Whether you work your dog or not, consider enrolling in the many dog sporting events in your area. This breed has done exceptionally well in all competitions and you might bring home a blue ribbon!

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